5 Free Agents To Keep, 5 Free Agents To Forget About

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The NFL season has ended and in some people’s minds, like every fan other than those of the Baltimore Ravens, the off-season begins when the combine starts in a few weeks. That means a new league year, a new shot at glory and your favorite team can dream of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy next February. Shortly after the combine though, comes the free agency frenzy where everyone takes a stab at just who they think their team should sign or let go of, and I’m no different.

The Dallas Cowboys have plenty of work to do going into the 2013 NFL and they don’t have much cap space to do it in. They are also moving towards a new defensive philosophy and have plenty of free agents of their own to worry about. Some people like to take care of their own first before heading out into the market so it’s something to keep an eye on. What will the Cowboys do when it comes to their free agents? I don’t know but I have an idea and I’m guessing there are plenty of theories as to what they should do so I’ll take my best shot here too.

The Cowboys have free agents and here the 5 they should sign and the 5 free agents they should let walk away and never be heard from again. The Cowboys can only do so much with their limited cap space so some of this may not be possible but if they get creative enough, it just might work.

Here are the 5 free agents the Cowboys should keep and 5 they should let walk away:

5. Let Phil Costa walk

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Phil Costa has worn out his welcome in Dallas. He’s been on the team for three years and he hasn’t been good enough to stay. He doesn’t have the size or strength to be a starter and I like other options for the team.

4. Say goodbye to Kenyon Coleman

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Kenyon Coleman played a bigger role than anyone thought because when he was lost for the year the Cowboys run defense went downhill. However, he is an aging player and Dallas needs to get younger on their defensive line.

3. Goodbye John Phillips

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John Phillips has been a nice role player but he never developed into the second tight end option, even after his promising start to the 2011 training camp. He tore his knee in the Cowboys first preseason game and has never put the pieces together. The Cowboys have James Hannah to play second fiddle to Jason Witten and Hannah should catch a good number of balls moving forward but the team needs a physical blocker for their third tight end.

2. Felix Jones will be gone

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Felix Jones’ time in Dallas has come to an end. He never lived up to the promise and he’s never been healthy enough to play a significant role for the Cowboys. I like him as a compliment to DeMarco Murray because he’s an established player but he’s not worth the money.

1. See-ya Kevin Ogletree

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Kevin Ogletree should’ve been gone last year and he has no place on the Cowboys roster. He did flash potential against the New York Giants in the season’s opening game but he never did much after that. He ran too many poor routes and dropped too many passes. Olgetree shouldn’t even be a thought for the Cowboys, who should develop Dwayne Harris and Cole Beasley instead.

5. Keep long snapper L.P. Ladouceur

4. Keep special teams ace Eric Frampton

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Safety Eric Frampton was picked up during the year and made some big plays for the Cowboys on special teams and as their injury situation in the secondary got worse, he was able to help out there as well. Frampton was a big part of the Cowboys special teams units and he should be brought back.

3. Ernie Sims is a keeper

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Ernie Sims is another player the Cowboys brought in during the season and he’s another player that produced. He’d make a nice fit in the new 4-3 scheme because he has the speed and the range to cover the field. He’s a little smaller so not having to take on blockers would benefit him and he’s a perfect fit as a backup role player for the Cowboys.

2. Mike Jenkins should stay

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I know there are plenty of people who don’t like Mike Jenkins but I don’t know why. He’s a solid player who can play multiple corner positions. There is not a better 4th corner in the league and getting him re-signed for cheap would be a good idea. He didn’t play much last year so his value is at its lowest right now so the Cowboys may have a shot at getting him back.

1. Re-sign Anthony Spencer

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Anthony Spencer was not only the best Cowboys defender last year, but he was their best player, period. They cannot let him walk away without trying to re-sign him. He’d likely be learning a new position next year but it shouldn’t be that difficult for Spencer who was a rush end in college. He played like a first round pick this season and the Cowboys need to do what they can, within reason, to re-sign Spencer.